Dartmouth Medal

A medal that honors the creation of a reference work of outstanding quality and significance. "Creation" of reference works may include, but not be limited to, writing, compiling,editing, or publishing books or electronic information. The award is given to works that have been published or made available for the first time during the calendar year preceding the presentation of the award. Dartmouth Medal Honorable Mention certificates are also presented. (Established 1974)

Dartmouth College established sponsorship of the award in 1974 upon the suggestion of Dean Lathem, Dartmouth College librarian, who acknowledged that no special honor existed in the United States for distinguished achievement relating to the creation of works of reference resources centrally important to libraries and to the pursuit of learning. The American Library Association was accorded complete and independent authority by the college to govern its bestowal. Dartmouth College commissioned the internationally celebrated graphic artist Rudolph Ruzicka to design the bronze medal. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who presided not only over the arts and sciences, but over all intellectual aspects of human life, is featured against a filigree of olive branches.

A publisher of reference works can be nominated according to the following criteria: Works may include, but not be limited to, writing, editing, compiling, or publishing books or the provision of information in other forms for reference use, e.g., a data bank. Bestowal of the award shall normally relate to works that have been published or otherwise made available for the first time during the calendar year preceeding the presentation of the award.

The jury is a committee consisting of four RUSA members and the chair of the ALA Reference Books Bulletin Editorial Board. Members are appointed by the Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) vice-chair and serve two-year terms. Consecutive terms are not permitted. Nominees will be reviewed in a closed meeting of the committee during Midwinter.

Award Recipients

1977 — Atlas of Early American History: The Revolutionary Era, 1760-1790. Lester J. Cappon, ed. (Princeton University Press for the Newberry Library and the Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1975)

1983 — Congressional Information Service, Inc., for "The body of its reference works which provide exceptional access to current and retrospective publications of the United States Government and to statistical publications from a wide variety of sources."

1984 — The Times Atlas of the Oceans (Van Nostrand, 1983)

1985 — Wilsonline (The H. W. Wilson Company)

1986 — The International Encyclopedia of Education: Research and Studies (Pergamon Press, 1985)

1987 — The Encyclopedia of the American Constitution (Macmillan, 1986)

1988 — The Encyclopedia of Religion (Macmillan, 1987)

1989 — We the People: An Atlas of America's Diversity. (Macmillan, 1988)

1995 — Encyclopedia of the American Presidency (Simon & Schuster) Honorable Mention: Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre (Schirmer Books)
1996 — Civilizations of the Ancient Near East (Macmillan Library Reference/Charles Scribner's Sons) Honorable Mention: Encyclopedia of Bioethics (Macmillan); Encyclopedia of New York City (Yale University Press)

1997 — The Dictionary of Art (Groves Dictionaries) Honorable Mention: Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History (Macmillan Reference); The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students (Charles Scribner's Sons); Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture (Charles Scribners Sons)